Work request data system and method of use

ABSTRACT

A work request data system allows a person such a homeowner to access and possess accurate information about the physical measurements of a property such as a home or other object as derived from a three-dimensional model of the property. The interface generates the measurement through an extraction module. 
     The work request generated by the data system is submitted to an open marketplace bidding platform. Servicers access this platform and are able to view and bid upon the project according to the specifications generated, modeled, extracted and segmented by the work request data system.

BACKGROUND 1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to commerce systems, and more specifically, to a work request data system that allows for the efficient population of the data needed to accurately estimate the cost of a job.

2. Description of Related Art

Commerce systems are well known in the art and are effective means to enabled multiple parties to transfer goods, services, commodities or the like between them. For example, FIG. 1 depicts a conventional job bidding system 101 having a homeowner 103 that needs work performed to their home 105 and a contractor 109. In use, the owner 103 initiates a repair request 107 with the contractor 109 who visits the home 105 to acquire information 111 needed to provide a bid 113 or cost estimate to the homeowner 103.

One of the problems commonly associated with system 101 is its limited efficiency. For example, the time and effort of the contractor 109 is only profitable if the homeowner 103 selects the bid 113 of the contractor 109. It will be understood that the homeowner 103 could request the services of multiple contractors 109.

Additionally, the accuracy of the information 111 acquired by the contractor 109 is dependent on their skill potentially causing over cost or under cost bids. It will be understood that if the bid is too low and selected by the homeowner 103 that contractor 109 will spend more to perform the work than they collect from the homeowner 103

Accordingly, although great strides have been made in the area of job bidding systems, many shortcomings remain.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The novel features believed characteristic of the embodiments of the present application are set forth in the appended claims. However, the embodiments themselves, as well as a preferred mode of use, and further objectives and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a diagram of a common job bidding system;

FIG. 2 is a diagram of a work request data system in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 3 is flowchart of a contemplated use of the system of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a simplified schematic of the measurement types of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of the preferred method of use of the system of FIG. 2.

While the system and method of use of the present application is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and are herein described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the description herein of specific embodiments is not intended to limit the invention to the particular embodiment disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the present application as defined by the appended claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Illustrative embodiments of the system and method of use of the present application are provided below. It will of course be appreciated that in the development of any actual embodiment, numerous implementation-specific decisions will be made to achieve the developer's specific goals, such as compliance with system-related and business-related constraints, which will vary from one implementation to another. Moreover, it will be appreciated that such a development effort might be complex and time-consuming, but would nevertheless be a routine undertaking for those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of this disclosure.

The system and method of use in accordance with the present application overcomes one or more of the above-discussed problems commonly associated with conventional job bidding system. Specifically, the invention of the present application enables the collection of information pertinent to the bid request without sending a person to visit the location of the requested bid. In addition, the invention of the present application enables the collection of exact information pertinent to the bid request. These and other unique features of the system and method of use are discussed below and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

The system and method of use will be understood, both as to its structure and operation, from the accompanying drawings, taken in conjunction with the accompanying description. Several embodiments of the system are presented herein. It should be understood that various components, parts, and features of the different embodiments may be combined together and/or interchanged with one another, all of which are within the scope of the present application, even though not all variations and particular embodiments are shown in the drawings. It should also be understood that the mixing and matching of features, elements, and/or functions between various embodiments is expressly contemplated herein so that one of ordinary skill in the art would appreciate from this disclosure that the features, elements, and/or functions of one embodiment may be incorporated into another embodiment as appropriate, unless described otherwise.

The preferred embodiment herein described is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. It is chosen and described to explain the principles of the invention and its application and practical use to enable others skilled in the art to follow its teachings.

Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference characters identify corresponding or similar elements throughout the several views, FIG. 2 depicts a diagram of a work request data system in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present application. It will be appreciated that system 201 overcomes one or more of the above-listed problems commonly associated with conventional job bidding systems.

In the contemplated embodiment, system 201 includes a building 203, imagery 211 taken by a photography source 205 and an interface 207. The interface 207 includes an extraction module 213 that interrogates a three-dimensional model 209 derived from the imagery 211.

In use, the interface 207 is activated by a user 215, the user 215 inputs a location that is taken by the interface 207 matched with a corresponding three-dimensional model 209 that is then interrogated by the extraction module 213 to derive measurements 219 of the building 203 at the location 217. These measurements 219 are then attached to a work request 221 for the location 217 submitted by the user 215.

It is contemplated that the three-dimensional model 209 is any data set that defines a building, structure or other object in a multi-dimensional way. It is contemplated that the three-dimensional model 209 is displayed in any format such as two-dimensional drawings.

It is further contemplated that this work request 221 as compiled by the interface 207 is passed to a bidding process 301 as described in FIG. 3. Process 301 includes creating a work request 303, populating the work request with the information needed to quote the work 305, posting the work request to a bidding platform 307, estimating a bid price based on the information provided in the work request 309 and returning all bids to the work request creator 311. It is contemplated that any number of bids could be submitted to the creator of the work request.

It is contemplated that any amount of data, such as the three-dimensional model 209, the measurements 219 or the like could be attached to the work request to facilitated the bidding process.

It should be appreciated that one of the unique features believed characteristic of the present application is that extraction module 213 automatically interrogates and derives the measurements 219 need to properly bid on a work request. It will be appreciated that thereby the need for a person to travel to and measure a building is eliminated. The improvements in this invention serve both to reduce the cost of the work and decrease the time needed to obtain a bid on completing the work request 221.

It should also be appreciated that the extraction module 213 is capable of producing the measurements in a repeatable and error-free manner. This prevents underbidding or over bidding a job to increase the profitability of those completing the work request 221

It is contemplated and will be appreciated that any form of data available from a three-dimensional model could be derived by the extraction module 213. Referring to FIG. 4., examples of the possible measurements 219 are depicted. Measurements 219 include angles 401 or slopes, surface areas 403, distances 405 or volumes 407. While these examples are provided, they are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.

Referring now to FIG. 5 the preferred method of use of the system 201 is depicted. Method 501 includes accessing an interface 503, providing a location 505, the interface associating a building with the provided location 507, identifying a three-dimensional model of the building 509, allowing the three-dimensional model to be interrogated by an extraction module 511 and transferring measurements extracted from the three-dimensional model to a work request 513.

The particular embodiments disclosed above are illustrative only, as the embodiments may be modified and practiced in different but equivalent manners apparent to those skilled in the art having the benefit of the teachings herein. It is therefore evident that the particular embodiments disclosed above may be altered or modified, and all such variations are considered within the scope and spirit of the application. Accordingly, the protection sought herein is as set forth in the description. Although the present embodiments are shown above, they are not limited to just these embodiments, but are amenable to various changes and modifications without departing from the spirit thereof. 

What is claimed:
 1. A work request data system comprising: an interface in communication with at least one extraction module; and at least one three-dimensional model; wherein at least one measurement of the three-dimensional model is provided by the extraction module to a user via the interface; wherein the at least one measurement is included in a work order.
 2. The system of claim 1 wherein a location is provided by the user and corresponds to the three-dimensional model.
 3. The system of claim 1 wherein the three-dimensional model is generated by imagery of the object.
 4. The method of providing accurate measurements for a work request given the system of claim 1, comprising: accessing an interface; providing a location; the interface associating a building with the provided location identifying a three-dimensional model of the building allowing the three-dimensional model to be interrogated by an extraction module; and transferring measurements extracted from the three-dimensional model to a work request.
 5. The method of obtaining bids to complete a work request comprising: creating a work request; populating the work request with the information needed to quote the work; posting the work request to a bidding platform; estimating a bid price based on the information provided in the work request; and returning all bids to the work request creator. 